joe biden and bill clinton are also on the stump for president obama. let's bring in our panel, former rnc chairman michael steele, former democratic senator blanche lincoln, and washington bureau chief susan page. susan, let me start with you. disaster politics. it's a fact of life. it's what can re-elect or unelect governors, but now it's potentially impacting the presidential race. any idea how this is going to impact? >> if you want to look at an opportunity for president, look at "morning joe," governor christie of new jersey, saying the president and fema are doing an outstanding job. i mean, that's the upside, potential political upside for a president. obama is not out there on the campaign trail like any candidate. he's in the situation room, being briefed overnight. >> right. this is an opportunity for him to be the president, to be the commander in chief, to make that case. if there's a problem with fema's response, if there's a glitch that develops, but i think a big potential here for president obama in this very, very close race. >> senato